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MyFitnessPal Community

Body/weight dismorphia

ellaroseevans

does anyone else feel much fatter then when they did when they started weight loss? I was slightly overweight when I started my journey and now 12kg down I feel huge like actually obese ever thought I am much much smaller and to be honest underweight for my height and age. I just don’t know how to feel better about myself and it leads to binging and restricting cycles that make me hate myself more. Does anyone else feel like this or know how to stop it? May thanks x

Replies

sollyn23l2

You need psychological help. And I mean that with the utmost kindness. Nobody here can help you, even though there are many well intentioned people here who will try.

sollyn23l2

And I do mean a real psychologist, not some nutritionist, life coach, or dietitian who claims their program will solve your body issues/relationship with food. They won't. You need a real psychologist.

Strudders67

My only real suggestion is to talk to a medical professional, asap. Practically, determine what is a healthy weight for your age and height, then set MFP to gain at a slow rate to get you to that target. Actually eat the number of calories allocated. Trust that many many people on here have followed the numbers to successfully reach a healthy weight; you can too. Photos may help show / prove that you are not obese but how you stop believing that, I have no idea other than to give yourself time or get professional help. You don't say how long you've been doing binging and restrictive cycles, but clearly you recognise that it's not good, which is a great start.

I can't say that I ever felt huge or fatter than I was, but it certainly took a long time to adjust to the fact that I was now slim / the weight I should be, rather than what I had been for a very very long time. I didn't get to underweight, but I did get very close to it and, for the first time in approx 30 years, had to actively put some weight on. Seeing a photo of myself, caught unawares, made me realise that I had definitely gone a little too far - and it was really difficult to increase my portion sizes again due to a fear of going too far back towards 'overweight'. That was five years ago and I'm now happily maintaining at 'normal' but it certainly took time to adjust and figure out what my real maintenance level was.

AnnPT77

I'm also encouraging you to see a counseling professional and medical professional. There should be no more stigma around that than there is when we take the car to a mechanic because it's making a funny noise that might be a problem, but we can't solve it ourselves. That's why those professionals exist. Psychologists and psychiatrists are there when we have a problem with our thought patterns that we can't sort out ourselves.

You don't say what your current weight is, but it kind of doesn't matter: With difficulty aligning your eating behavior with healthy goals, deep self-criticism (maybe even self punishment) in the mix, moving past that is priority one.

I will say that some people who start out very obese (objectively, i.e., BMI in the upper thirties and above) may sometimes feel fatter part way through weight loss. That's because areas of body fat go from being sort of filled-out, firm, rounded to being more droopy and floppy, which can feel bad. Most of those people will find that if they hang in there, keep on a healthy track that's appropriate to their actual, objective bodyweight and endorsed by their medical doctor, that situation will improve with time and patience.

You've given us no clue about what your current size is, but what you've said does make me concerned for you. Please seek out professional counseling. In most places, there are free or affordable resources available. You are worth investing in and improving. Start yourself on a course that helps you believe that.

ellaroseevans

Thank you so much everyone for the kind words and comments, i am taking the advice on board and am currently speaking to the mental health services available for people with my issues in the Uk. x

AnnPT77

I'm sincerely very happy to hear that you've taken that step: Wishing you the forward progress that will surely come to you as you continue to work at solving issues that face you. Great news!

elisa123gal

You have the good sense to realize what you are feeling is off and not right. That means you will be able and open to the professional help you seek. It will be a relief for you to talk to someone trained in helping you develop a healthy and realistic view of yourself.

schonsdragon

I have this off and on. I have what really helps me is getting clothes that truly fit me at whatever size I currently am at.

Not loose or tight but truly fit. That is when I feel like I have made progress. If I have something that is a little tight it makes me feel like I haven't really lost any weight. If it is loose I don't see the weight loss because it is hiding under the baggy clothes.

The clothes can be used, new, cheap, expensive, back of closet it doesn't matter except the fit. I don't do it for every size change but regularly.